Submersible pumping apparatus with integrated filter and sealed circuitry

Abstract

A submersible pumping apparatus for displacing transmission fluid includes a pump operably coupled with a motor. A filter housing is attached to the pump and has a cavity with an inlet aperture extending to an exhaust port of the pump. A fluid filter is engaged with the cavity and has a filter cover with a relief valve disposed within an outlet aperture that extends from the cavity to an exit port on the filter cover. The relief valve is configured to open when a fluid pressure from the exit port reaches a threshold and close when the fluid pressure is below the threshold. A rotor cover is attached to the motor and has a circuit board for operating the motor, such that the rotor cover is configured to prevent the circuit board from being exposed to liquid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A submersible pumping apparatus for displacing transmission fluid, comprising:
 a pump operably coupled with a motor;   a filter housing attached to the pump and having a cavity with an inlet aperture extending to an exhaust port of the pump;   a fluid filter engaged with the cavity and having a filter cover with a relief valve disposed within an outlet aperture that extends from the cavity to an exit port on the filter cover; and   a rotor cover attached to the motor and having a circuit board for operating the motor, wherein the rotor cover is configured to prevent the circuit board from being exposed to liquid.   
     
     
         2 . The submersible pumping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bearing integrally coupled with an interior side of the rotor cover and rotatably engaged with an end of a rotor shaft of the motor.   
     
     
         3 . The submersible pumping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid filter includes a filter element disposed within the cavity between the inlet aperture on the filter housing and the outlet aperture on the filter cover for filtering the displaced transmission fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The submersible pumping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the relief valve is configured to open when a fluid pressure from the exit port reaches a threshold and configured to close when the fluid pressure is below the threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The submersible pumping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a positive displacement pump coupled with a rotor shaft of the motor. 
     
     
         6 . The submersible pumping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the relief valve includes a spring loaded ball that is overcome to open the relief valve. 
     
     
         7 . The submersible pumping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor cover includes a terminal element integrally extending within the rotor cover and electrically connecting the circuit board with an electric connection for receiving power and communication signals. 
     
     
         8 . The submersible pumping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one elongated fastener that extends through the pump and the motor to engage between the filter housing and the rotor cover.   
     
     
         9 . A pumping apparatus for displacing fluid, comprising:
 a pump adapted to operably couple with a motor;   a filter housing coupled with the pump and having a cavity with an inlet aperture extending to an exhaust port of the pump; and   a fluid filter engaged with the cavity and having a filter cover sealed around a periphery of the cavity, wherein a relief valve is disposed in the filter cover between the cavity and an exit port, such that the relief valve is configured to open when a fluid pressure from the exit port reaches a threshold and close when the fluid pressure is below the threshold.   
     
     
         10 . The pumping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid filter includes a filter element that is adapted for filtering the displaced fluid and is disposed within the cavity between the inlet aperture on the filter housing and the relief valve in the filter cover. 
     
     
         11 . The pumping apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the filter element is adhered to an inside surface of the filter cover around an intake port on the filter cover, and wherein the fluid pressure from the exit port reaching the threshold is indicative of an associated vehicle engine running. 
     
     
         12 . The pumping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pump comprises a gerotor unit that is configured to couple with a rotor shaft of the motor. 
     
     
         13 . The pumping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the relief valve includes a blocking member that is overcome to open the relief valve. 
     
     
         14 . The pumping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pump is configured to displace fluid from the filter housing to the exit port of the filter cover when the relief valve is closed and from the filter housing to a sump basin of a transmission when the relief valve is open. 
     
     
         15 . A filter module for a pump within a fluid reservoir of a vehicle, comprising:
 a filter housing adapted to couple with the pump and having a filter cavity with an inlet aperture for extending to the pump;   a filter cover sealably coupled with a periphery of the filter cavity;   a filter element for filtering fluid displaced by the pump coupled with an inside surface of the filter cover; and   a relief valve disposed in the filter cover between the filter element and an exit port on the filter cover and configured to open when a fluid pressure from the exit port reaches a threshold and close when the fluid pressure is below the threshold.   
     
     
         16 . The filter module of  claim 15 , wherein the filter element has a first end adhered to the filter cover and a second end adhered to a cap that prevents displaced fluid from bypassing the filter element. 
     
     
         17 . The filter module of  claim 15 , wherein the relief valve includes a blocking member that is overcome to open the relief valve. 
     
     
         18 . A submersible pumping apparatus for displacing fluid, comprising:
 a motor housing having a drive coil;   a rotor shaft rotatably engaged within the motor housing and configured to operably couple with a positive displacement pump; and   a rotor cover attached to the motor and comprising:
 a bearing integrally coupled with an interior side of the rotor cover and rotatably coupled with an end of the rotor shaft; and 
 a circuit board for operating the drive coil to control rotation of the rotor shaft, wherein the rotor cover is configured to prevent the circuit board from being exposed to liquid. 
   
     
     
         19 . The submersible pumping apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the rotor cover further comprises:
 a protective cover sealably attached to an exterior side of the rotor cover to conceal the circuit board, wherein a silicone seal is attached between the rotor cover and the protective cover to provide a liquid seal.   
     
     
         20 . The submersible pumping apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the rotor cover further comprises:
 a coil element integrally extending within the rotor cover and electrically connecting the drive coil with the circuit board; and   a terminal element integrally extending within the rotor cover and electrically connecting the circuit board with an electric connection for receiving power and communication signals.